Illuminated case



Oct. 16, 1934. K. c. WELGH ILLUMINATED CASE Filed Sept. 21, 1935 Patented Oct. 16, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Kenneth C. Welch, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Grand ltapids Store Equipment Company, Grand Rapids, Micl1., a corporation of Michigan Application September 21, 1933, Serial No. 690,377

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to illuminated cases and more particularly to display cases of the wall type especially adaptedfor use in retail stores showing merchandise offered for sale. The principal objects of the invention are to provide a display case of the general character above indicated whose interior is effectively and attractively illuminated; to provide such a display case whose source of illumination is likewise utilized to effect general illumination of the store in which it is used; to provide such a structure having a light reflecting hood associated and mounted with respect to the top of the display case whereby the source of light used to illuminate the interior of the display case is likewise used to effect general illumination of the store; and, to provide such a structure whereby attractive, effective, efficient and economical illumination of the character above indicated is effected.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a display case of the wall type and its light reflecting hood disposed adjacent a wardrobe, vertical display panel or other merchandising fixture of the same height;

Figure 2 is a sectional view thereof on line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a view, partly in section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in which like parts of the structure are designated by the same numerals in the several views, the display case or fixture herein shown is positioned against the wall 1 of the store or building and is provided with doors 2 each having a transparent glass pane 3 for displaying and housing merchandise such as womens dresses 4, hats, suits or other wearing 4O apparel or other merchandise offered for sale.

The case is here shown as positioned adjacent another'merchandising fixture such as a mirror, wardrobe or vertical display panel 5.

The top 6 of the case is provided with an elongated light opening '7 extending the length of its top and adjacent the front marginal edge thereof and illuminating means here shown as a plurality of spaced incandescent light bulbs 8, whose sockets are wired to a suitable source of electric current, are disposed below the light opening and upon the rear side of the outer panel 9 above the doors of the case. A transparent or translucent glass pane 10 mounted over the light opening serves to prevent dust from entering through the opening to the interior of the case and permits placed relatively closer together.

light rays to issue upwardly therethrough as best shown in- Figure 2.

Mounted upon the top of the case is a. hood ll of substantially the length thereof. The hood is of any suitable material as for example wood, fibre composition or sheet metal and is arcuate in form. Its concave surface is preferably treated as by painting orspraying to produce a light refiecting surface. The upper edge of thehood projects outwardly and overhangs the light opening and the light rays thus emanating from the incandescent bulbs which are thus concealed from view not only illuminate the interior of the case but likewise issue against the reflecting surface of the hood to be reflected outwardly therefrom for giving general illumination to the store. The intensity of the light emanating from the bulbs and reflected by the concave surface of the hood may be controlled by properly spacing the sockets and the use of proper sized bulbs.

Wearing apparel or other merchandise placed in the several compartments of the case is thus attractively displayed and is effectively brought to the attention of prospective customers by the soft, diffused and uniformly illuminated arcuate surface of the hood and the particular merchandise displayed may, if desired, be indicated and designated or advertising messages related, by spaced changeable letters 12 preferably opaque placed upon the upper edge of the panel 9 as best shown in Figure 1 which letters are caused to stand out in bold relief against the illuminated background.

It will thus be seen that general illumination of the store is effectedby the same initial source of light used to illuminate merchandise displayed in the case, making for more economical and efficient illumination as well as for an attractive and effective merchandising fixture. Glaring overhead lamps or hanging chandeliers, may in many instances be dispensed with by using a series of higher wattage-lamps spaced relatively farther apart than a series of lesser wattage bulbs Thus a higher wattage may be used for displaying merchandise than is customarily used since the same light source is utilized to give a non-glare general illumination to the interior of the store.

While but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. In a structure of the class described, a display case having a light opening extending the length of the top of said case, a hood having a light reflecting surface of substantially the length of said top mounted upon the top of said case and having an outwardly projecting arcuate surface overhanging said light opening, and a plurality of concealed spaced incandescent light bulbs disposed adjacent said light opening whose light rays are adapted to illuminate the interior of said case and to be reflected outwardly by said hood for general interior store illumination.

2. In a structure of the class described, a display case having a light opening in its top adjacent its front marginal edge, a hood having a light reflecting surface mounted upon the top of said case and overhanging said light opening, and concealed illuminating means disposed adjacent said opening whose light rays are adapted to illuminate the interior of said case and to be reflected by said hood for general interior store illumination.

3. In a structure of the class described, a display case having a light opening in its top, a hood having an arcuate light reflecting surface and mounted upon the top of said case, and concealed illuminating. means disposed adjacent said opening whose light rays are adapted to illuminate the interior of the case and to be reflected by said hood for general interior store illumination.

4. In a structure of the class described, a display case having an opening at its top, a light reflecting hood disposed adjacent the top of the case, and concealed illuminating means disposed adjacent said opening whose light rays are adapted to illuminate the interior of the case and to be reflected by said hood for general interior store illumination.

5. In a structure of the class described, a display case having an opening at its top, a light reflecting element disposed in association with the top of the case, and concealed illuminating means disposed below said opening whose light rays are adapted to illuminate the interior of the case and to be reflected by said element for general interior store illumination.

6. In a structure of the class described, a display case having a light opening extending the length of the top of said case, a hood having a light reflecting surface of substantially the length of said top mounted upon the top of said case and having an outwardly projecting arcuate having a light-emitting opening through its top wall, a hood portion above the case portion having a front surface concave in vertical planes and adapted to' reflect light outwardly, and concealed light-emitting means below said opening so disposed relatively to the case portion and the hood portion as to shed light on the merchandise in the case portion and on said surface whereby the merchandise and the general interior of the store are illuminated by-\the same light-emitting means.

8. In a structure of the class described, a case portion adapted to contain displayed merchandise visible from the front of the structure and having a glazed light-emitting opening through its top wall, a hood portion above the case portion having a front surface concave in vertical planes and adapted to reflect light outwardly, and concealed light-emitting means below said opening so disposed relatively to the case portion and the hood portion as to shed light on the merchandise in the case portion and on said surface whereby the merchandise and the general interior of the store are illuminated by the same light-emitting means.

9. In a structure of the class described, a case portion adapted to contain displayed merchandise visible from the front of the structure and having a light-emitting opening through its top wall, a hood portion above the case portion having a front surface concave in vertical planes and adapted to reflect light outwardly, and lightemitting means adjacent said opening so disposed relatively to the case portion and the hood portion as to shed light on the merchandise in the case portion and on said surface whereby the merchandise and the general interior of the store are illuminated by the same light-emitting means, the structure having a shield for said means concealing the same from view toward the front of the structure.

KENNETH C. WELCH. 

